ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Dr. Homer Rice, Georgia Tech’s longtime athletic director, died Monday at the age of 97, the university announced.
Rice served as the Yellow Jackets’ athletic director from 1980-1997 and led the school to 16 Atlantic Coast Conference championships across five sports during his tenure, the university announced in a press release Monday night.
“Under his leadership, Georgia Tech revitalized its athletics program, winning its fourth football national championship in 1990,” the university said in a statement.
Tech said its men’s basketball team won its first ACC championship in 1985 and appeared in its first NCAA Final Four in 1990, while the baseball team reached its first College World Series in 1994 under Rice’s guidance.
As the school’s athletic director, Rice “employed some of Tech’s most successful and legendary head coaches,” including basketball’s Bobby Cremins, football’s Bobby Ross and George O’Leary, baseball’s Jim Morris and Danny Hall and golf’s Bruce Heppler, according to the university.
Prior to joining Tech, Rice coached high school, college and professional football, including serving as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 1978-79.
“Throughout his career, Homer reminded us that the ultimate goal of college sports is for student-athletes to fully develop as human beings,” Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera said in a statement. “At a time of great change in the sports world, Homer’s message and legacy of excellence is more important than ever.”
According to the university, Rice is survived by his wife, three daughters, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
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